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ESPN's Mike Greenberg: Collins coming out 'both an enormous deal and I think no big deal at all'
(CNN) - It's the biggest move of his career and it's off the court.
Jason Collins, who played with the NBA's Boston Celtics and Washington Wizards this season, has disclosed that he is gay, making him the first active openly gay male athlete in the four major American pro team sports.
The center, who said he is now a free agent, made the disclosure in a column appearing in the upcoming issue of Sports Illustrated.
"I didn't set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport. But since I am, I'm happy to start the conversation. I wish I wasn't the kid in the classroom raising his hand and saying, 'I'm different.' If I had my way, someone else would have already done this. Nobody has, which is why I'm raising my hand," he wrote.
Collins also wrote that the killing of three people at the Boston Marathon persuaded him to make an announcement. Things can change in a moment, so why not starting living more truthfully, he wrote.
This morning on "Early Start," ESPN's "Mike and Mike" co-hosts Mike Greenberg & Mike Golic weigh in on NBA player Jason Collins announcing he is gay.
READ MORE: NBA's Jason Collins comes out as gay
CNN Trends: Man loses life savings in carnival game, has stuffed banana with dreadlocks to show for it
A man recounts how he lost his life savings playing a carnival game and all he won was a stuffed banana with dreadlocks.
Possible links between Tamerlan Tsarnaev and Canadian jihadist boxer? Phil Black reports
(CNN) - Federal agents are looking into possible links between dead Boston Marathon bomb suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev and a Canadian boxer-turned-jihadist killed by Russian troops in 2012, a source being briefed on the investigation said Monday.
William Plotnikov and six others died in a firefight with Russian forces in the southwestern republic of Dagestan in July 2012, while Tsarnaev was visiting the region, the source said. The 23-year-old Plotnikov was born in Russia, but his family moved to Canada when he was a teenager.
The source said Plotnikov's body was prepared for burial by a local imam on July 14. Tsarnaev flew out of Dagestan two days later, arriving in New York on July 17. Investigators are looking into the possibility he left because of Plotnikov's death, the source said.
This morning on "Early Start," CNN's Phil Black reports on possible links between Tamerlan Tsarnaev and Canadian boxer-turned-jihadist William Plotnikov.
READ MORE: Boston probe eyes slain Canadian jihadist, source says
Will NBA player Jason Collins' marketability boost after coming out? Christine Romans explains
CNN's Christine Romans on if NBA player Jason Collins will enjoy increased marketability after announcing he is gay.
Tsarnaev interacting, speaking in jail as investigation continues – Pamela Brown reports
CNN's Pamela Brown on latest condition of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev in jail and a new focus in investigation of Boston bombings.
CNN Trends: Michael Jordan gets hitched and 'Iron Man 3' has huge overseas sales
Basketball legend Michael Jordan gets married, and "Iron Man 3" has a huge overseas debut with $195.3 million in sales.
Militant killed in Russia raid linked 'tangentially' to Tsarnaev? Nick Paton Walsh reports
In developments Monday in the Boston marathon bombing investigation, Russian special forces killed two members of a jihadist group during an early morning raid in Dagestan, a semi-autonomous republic in southern Russia, two Russian police sources told CNN.
One of those killed, Shakhrudin Askhabov, was a close associate of Abu Dujan, the islamist group's leader.
Nick Paton Walsh reports on the death of Shakhrudin Askhabov, a close associate of Abu Dujan, and possible 'tangential links' to Tamerlan Tsarnaev.
MUST-SEE VIDEO: Walk into a NYC subway...get serenaded by Michael Bublé? Yup it happened
Singer Michael Bublé surprised fans with an acapella performance in a New York subway after his show was canceled.
VIDEO: Cops mock homeless in '86 training video, causes controversy decades later
The interim Seattle police chief apologizes for a 1986 video mocking homeless people to the tune "Under the Boardwalk."
What are the best-paying jobs for 2013 college graduates? Christine Romans on new survey
Imagine: You're fresh out of college or maybe even still in college. Tou get your first job offer, and low and behold your starting salary is $93,500.
What college major led to that amazing starting salary?
On "Early Start," CNN's Christine Romans reports on a new survey from the Nat. Assoc. of Colleges and Employers lists the best paying college majors for the class of 2013.
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